A new year, a new chance to kick off
By Josh Martin, Sports Editor
School. The only reason any of you are picking up this paper and reading this very article. Youâre at Douglas College, and my past two years here have been some of the best times that Iâve been a part ofâsolely because of getting involved with the school community. Whether it was through the Theatre program that I recently graduated from, the Wales Field School program, meeting new people, or simply getting involved with The Other Press, itâs been a blast.
Some of you are here because you have no idea what you want to do with your future. Youâre getting in your two years and then transferring off to a university somewhere else. Or you missed your deadline for the BCIT broadcasting program and have to wait another year before entry. Any of those reasons are legitimate, but why not make the most out of it?
One of the best ways to get involved with the Douglas College community is through our sports teams.
Soccer, basketball, badminton, volleyball, baseball, softball, golf, and the running club. You name it, we got it. Whether youâre an avid fan that loves to watch your peers play, a student thatâs new to this place and is interested in sports, or an athlete yourself, then come out and support your troops or join a squad! Our teams will be playing throughout the year here at Douglas and are always up for more support.
Last year, Douglas College hosted the 2012 PACWEST Volleyball Championships. Every game was packed to the brim full of fans to cheer on the Royals. Our menâs volleyball team went on to win the PACWEST championship taking the gold right here at home in our very own schoolâone of the biggest moments in recent years for the Royals athletic department, especially in front of our home crowd.
The team to watch this fall are the Royals menâs soccer squad who have fire in their eyes this season, coming after a nightmare of a year last season, when they were disqualified from the league due to the ineligibility of Simrin Rattanpalâwho failed to accumulate the 18 credits that were required by PACWEST to compete as a player in the league. This was a huge upset for the soccer squad, who were favoured to win the national championship title in Quebec. This year, thereâs no chance of them missing Nationals, as theyâre hosting the Championships and will be granted entry regardless. All eyes will be on them this fall, with huge expectations to bring home the title, especially after such a disappointing year.
** This upcoming week, the menâs soccer team kicks off on an Okanagan trip with their first stop in Kamloops on Saturday September 8 against Thompson Rivers University at Hillside Stadium at 2 p.m. They then make their way to Kelowna to face UBCO on Sunday for another 2 p.m. battle.
Their first home game will be against Quest on September 22 at 3 p.m. in Coquitlam.
The womenâs soccer team will be joining the men on the Okanagan trip and will be making stops in Kamloops and Kelowna as well, with both games on Saturday and Sunday at 12 p.m.
They will be partaking in their first home game on September 22 as well, against Quest at 1 p.m.
